Endure...

We know that good and bad things happen to everyone. Some days are better than others because...well, that's just life. 

William Wadsworth Longfellow wrote about it in his poem Rainy Day: ...into each life a little rain must fall. Even Scriputre itself teaches: ...for He [Your Father in Heaven] maketh His sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. (Matt. 5:45) It doesn't matter whether you're a child of God or not, bad things happen to everyone.

We commonly say When it rains, it pours...and let me tell you, the last two weeks have been nothing but hurricane like storms with a few twisters thrown in. Seems fitting since we're literally experiencing some of the effects of Hurricane Ida. 

I can honestly say that my faith has been tested; and boy, oh boy, has it been tried. If it wasn't one thing it was another. We'd work through one situation only to be thrust into another…with no resolution in sight.

One day this past week I was sitting in the driver's seat of my car...my very hot, very dead car...pleading with the Lord for just one day, just one, where everything was...normal!

And these trials haven't been limited to just this breaking down here, or that not working right there…even though those are pretty frustrating in and of themselves. It's the spiritual ones that have seemed more intense, more persistent. I even found myself getting to a point of asking the Lord: Do I have any unconfessed sin in my life? Am I doing what You want me to do? Are my motives in my service for You right? Am I doing something wrong? Are you trying to get my attention about...something? Anything?

What am I missing?

But God didn't speak in the metaphorical hurricane winds or spiraling tornadic trials of the past few weeks. In fact, He spoke much like He did to Elijah, who was running for his life in 1 Kings 19. While on the mount, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the Lord...I'd say that's a pretty strong wind!

...but the Lord was not in the wind...

...and after the wind an earthquake; but the Lord was not in the earthquake... 

...and after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire...

...and after the fire a still small voice...

It was in this still small voice I felt the Lord say: Kari...endure…endure hardness…as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. (2 Tim. 2:3)

For me the Lord was using each trial blowing like the strong wind, shaking like the earthquake, and roaring like a fire, to just simply reach out and grab my attention. Then once the noise, and the frustration, and the anger had all died down, there was nothing left but brokenness…brokenness that leads to quiet, inward reflection. Only then could I truly hear the still small voice of my loving Savior: Kari, endure ...

As children of God we ARE soldiers in the Lord's army; and being soldiers we go where the Lord wants us to go, perform the tasks He wants us to perform, and follow the commands He has given us in His Word. 

We're also in a spiritual battle; and as any good soldier knows, not all battles will be easily won. We'll get weary from fighting the enemy, from rescuing the lost, from caring for the wounded...and yes, even from taking friendly fire. But the command still remains: Endure...

Stay strong, Dear Friend. Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong. (1 Cor. 16:13)

And Endure!

*In memory of those servicemen who lost their lives in service for our country. We mourn with the friends and families in their time of grief. Thank you for your sacrifice. May we never forget!*

Simply Soldiering On,